Device fob inducing sleep



i (No Model.) v

F. W. PAUL.

DEVICE FOR INDUOING SLEEP. No. 313,516. Patented Mar. 10, 1885.

WWW/ewe -F Ewe/Wt? w M Maw @W N4 PETERS. Pholn-Lilhogmphur. Washmgmm up ihsrrnn Srnrns Parnsrr @rrrcn.

FANNY XV. PAUL, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR lNDUCiNG SLEEP.

gPECIFICATIQN farming part of Letters Patent No. 313,516, dated lldarch 10, 1885.

Appication filed April 28, 1884. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FANNY W. PAUL, a cilizen of the United States, and a resident of New I strument whereby limited pressure may be applied to the arteries and veins of the neck which convey the blood to and from the head, with the object of modifying the flow and restoring quiet to the brain in persons suffering from wakefulness or insomnia. In such cases the sufferer is generally under abnormal nervous excitement from some causeas, for in stance, intense or prolonged application to business, over-study, great anxiety, protracted cares, and worries of the,mind. This nervous excitement quickens the action of the heart, and an augmented flow of blood to the brain follows, the recumbent position of the sufferer facilitating this result. The vessels of the neck being elastic, are distended to accommodate the enlarged current,whieh further excites the brain and renders sleep impossible.

The object of this instrument is to slightly modify this flow of blood to the head, and thereby reduce the activity of the brain in order that sleep may ensue.

I have experimented with different degrees of pressure upon the arteries and veins of the neck, and find that 'while pressure applied without proper limit and adjustment only excites the sufferer additionally, by the use of this instrument the proper pressure is obtained to control the undesirableflow of blood above referred to, and very soon after this takes place the nervous system becomes soothed and quieted, and sleep follows almost immediately, and sleep thus obtained refreshes and builds up the system and the nervous organization, there being no after effects, as in the use of narcotics or opiates.

It has been found that the desired result is attainable in from ten to twenty minutes without ill effect of any kind where the surrounding conditions are not unfavorable and the rules for application are properly observed.

In the drawings the sameletters indicate the same parts.

Figure 1 is a side view of the instrument, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an end view, the handle being presented. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of the spring-adjusting dev1ce. 1

The instrument consists of a collar-like band, a, made of rubber, metal, or other suitable substance, which in use encircles, or partly encircles, the neck. Onitsinnerside, fastened at its upper end by rivets, screws, or in any other suitable manner, is a flexible spring, b,whic-h is preferably covered and padded, as usual, in such instruments. The reduced end of a stud, 0, plays in a slot, (1, cut through the band a, and is confined at any desired part of the slot by the set-screw c, which enters the end of the stud. The inner end of the stud cis provided with a thumb-screw, f, set ona little threaded spindle, g, which enters the end of thestud adjacent to the spring. tion of the stud in the slot the elasticity of the spring I) will be increased or diminished, as desired, and by running the thumb-screwf out or in the spring will be adjusted relative to the band a, thus adapting it to necks of different sizes. The forward end of the band a is formed into a handle or lever, h, against which the user gently presses with one hand, and thus causes the spring to bear upon the arteries and veins of the neck. of the band a is attached a light leather strap, i, to be held in one hand to retain the instrument in position while the other hand presses upon the lever.

The operation is as follows: The band is placed around the neck, preferably with the right hand holding the lever in such manner that the padded spring rests with light pressure against the flesh beneath the jaw and about midway between the ear and chin. The strap on the opposite side is intended merely to keep the instrument from slipping and retainit in position. The pressure upon the handle causes the spring to bear against the neck. Care should be exercised that the pressure be not sufficient to produce discomfort, but simply to restrict the too abundant flow of blood to the The user will in a very few minutes as- By changing the loca-- To the other end The nice adtoo 2. The combination of the band a, the padded spring 1), adjustable relative to the band 15 a, the handle 72 and the strap i, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. I

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 26th day of April, A. D. 1884.

FANNY W. PAUL.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN H. IvEs, SHERWOOD CONNELL. 

